Afghan women told the BBC about life during the Taliban’s five-year rule
Women and girls in Afghanistan told the BBC that five years after the Taliban returned to power, their lives have changed radically due to restrictions on access to education, work, medical care, and freedom of movement.
Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls are officially barred from pursuing secondary and higher education. According to UNICEF, about 2.6 million girls are unable to continue their education beyond sixth grade. One of the women interviewed by the BBC, Shakiba, was able to complete her secondary education online, but says her dream of becoming a pilot now seems out of reach.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki told BBC Afghan that it is incorrect to claim there is a complete ban on women. According to him, three million girls are attending schools and madrasas, and the restrictions apply to only a small portion of women’s affairs and will remain in effect until further notice.
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Meanwhile, the UN reports that only 7% of women in Afghanistan are employed. TV host Zuhal said she lost her job following a series of orders from the Taliban authorities. She said that working on camera was part of her identity, but now she is forced to spend her days at home. Muttaki, for his part, stated that the number of female entrepreneurs has risen from 30,000 in 2020–2021 to 120,000.
The women interviewed by the BBC also reported instances of public corporal punishment. Shaimah said she was flogged 50 times and forced to confess to collaborating with non-believers and associating with men who were not her relatives. Manizha stated that she was publicly flogged 39 times for befriending a man and was subsequently imprisoned. According to official data, hundreds of people have been flogged in the country since 2021, though the BBC notes that the actual number may be higher.
Restrictions on treatment by male doctors also make it difficult for women and girls to access medical care. Midwife Marzia recounted the death of a 45-year-old mother of six who had traveled to the clinic from a remote area. The medical staff managed to save the infant. Despite this, some women are trying to create opportunities for others: 24-year-old Nuri is building her own company, which already employs 10 women.
